ITF Men’s Futures
Main draw (First round)

Yesterday
J.C Gasigwa 1-6, 2-6 R. Roelofse (S.Africa)

Today
D. Habiyambere vs V. Stanislav (RUS)

JEAN Claude Gasigwa bowed out of the ITF Men’s Futures after yesterday’s crushing 1-6, 2-6 first round defeat against South Africa’s Ruan Roelofse at Laico hotel’s center court.

The country’s top seed looked every inch a player short of games and confidence infront of a vocal home crowd.

Gasigwa’s elimination means that Rwanda’s chances of fielding a player in the second round rest on the shoulders of Dieudonne Habiyambere who takes on Russia’s Vovk Stanislav this morning.

The 27-year-old looked weary and out of touch throughout the entire match and hardly provided any challenge to Roelofse who has an ATP ranking of 260.

"He was better prepared than me,” Gasigwa conceded moments after the match which lasted just over an hour.

"He (Roelofse) has played more tournaments than me this year, so it was always going to be a tall order to beat him.”

Since 2002 when the first edition of the ITF Men’s Futures was hosted in Rwanda, only four players have made it to the second round and they include Eric Hagenimana, Allan Hakizimana, Eric Uwamahoro and Olivier Nkunda.

Netherlands’ Matwe Middelkoop is the man to beat this year.

This year’s edition is jointly sponsored by Heineken and the Sports Ministry (Minispoc).

Ends